For businesses large and small, relying on a cloud-based collaboration and productivity suite such as Microsoft Office 365 is becoming the norm. Enhancing productivity in your organisation is vital to get ahead in 2017 - and using Office 365 can help, if it's used right...

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: £600 32GB model costs Apple just £168 in parts

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are now on sale, and most models were sold out well in advance after huge pre-orders. Below is a round up of all the key information about the device and all related news.

Latest news:

21/09/2016: A teardown of a 32GB iPhone 7 has revealed that the components have a total bill of around £168 ($220). The findings, from IHS, show just how much margin Apple makes on each device. A 32GB iPhone 7 costs £600.

The margin will increase even more for the 128GB and 256GB versions. IHS has yet to do a similar comparison on the iPhone 7 Plus, but no doubt that too will have a sizeable disparity between the build cost and its market price.

IHS also noted that the new Jet Black colour option raises costs, and is perhaps why this model has proved so popular at launch.

“This is a new feature that produces a whole new look for the iPhone,” said Wayne Lam, principal smartphone analyst at IHS.

“It is a lower-yielding, time-intensive manufacturing step that adds cost, as well as considerable value, pushing the retail price higher for those requesting this option.”

However, it is worth noting that the costs outlined by IHS relate only to the parts the firm has to buy for each device, not the actual manufacturing and distribution costs.

19/09/2016: The iPhone 7 is now on the market but already a couple of teething problems have to light. Firstly there are reports that the phones start hissing during intense workloads, such as video processing.

Secondly, owners have complained that the new 'harder' home button is almost impossible to use if wearing gloves, or when the device is inserted in a sports sleeve worn by some people when running.

16/09/2016: The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are now on sale, although anyone hoping to get their hands on the device in Apple Stores is likely to be disappointed. Apple has already confirmed that most models and sizes are out of stock after strong pre-sale orders.

Those ordering online will face similar delays. Almost any variation of the phone in terms of storage size and colour will involve a one- to three-week wait.

15/09/2016: Apple has confirmed that stock of the iPhone 7 Plus, in all colours and storage configurations, has been exhausted, while the smaller iPhone 7 has sold out in the new jet black colour.

This means that those heading to the Apple Store on Friday, and perhaps even those already tucked up in a sleeping bag outside one, won't be able to pick up these models without having made a reservation.

"During the online pre-order period, initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus in all finishes and iPhone 7 in jet black sold out and will not be available for walk-in customers," the firm said.

Release datePre-orders go live on 9 September, and you'll be able to get your hands on the iPhone 7 proper from 16 September.

PriceThe iPhone 7 is the same price as the iPhone 6S in the US, but Brexit means that UK buyers are in for a price hike.

The iPhone 7 in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations will cost £599 (compared with £539), £699 (compared with £619) and £799 (compared with £699) at the Apple Store. The iPhone 7 Plus is £719, £819 and £919 respectively.

If you're looking for a bundle, you'll be able to take your pick from the UK's major operators.

Pre-orders on EE begin on 9 September, and its 4G+ network will bring speeds of up to 450Mbps to iPhone 7 users. Handset prices will start at £9.99, and tariffs at £55.99 per month for the iPhone 7. The Plus carries a one-off cost of £79.99 on a £65.99 monthly contract.

We've heard that O2 will offer the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus on monthly tariffs beginning at £43. Again, you can expect to cough up £59.99 upfront.

BT Mobile is graciously knocking £120 off its pay monthly and handset package deals for existing BT Broadband subscribers. Plans come with a one-off cost of £30, and could be as little as £44 per month. (£39 for BT Broadband customers).

The cheapest monthly tariff on Vodafone stands at £32, but you'll take a hit when it comes to that £300 handset cost. Other bundles include £52 per month and a more respectable £30 upfront.

Virgin Media's offers start at £37 per month. There's no upfront cost, but you'll have to factor in extra for data.

Carphone Warehouse is keen to highlight a £52 per month tariff that comes with a one-off payment of £9.99.

Contracts on Three start at £43, with a £149 payment. The network will include 'Feel at Home' roaming with all sales of the iPhone 7.

SpecsBoth feature the same displays as their iPhone 6S and 6S Plus contemporaries, i.e. 1,334x750 for the iPhone 7 and 1,920x1,080 for the iPhone 7 Plus. However, Apple claims a 25 per cent bump in brightness and a wider colour gamut this time around.

Much to the internet's chagrin, the iPhone 7 marks the end of the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead the new handsets adopt Apple's proprietary Lightning port, as well as Bluetooth, and a new wireless standard for hooking up headphones, including Apple's all-new wireless AirPods.

The AirPods are cable-free and have a five-hour battery life (with an additional 24 hours from a bundled chargeable box). The accessory is powered by Apple's new chip which will automatically connect to the Apple device and detect when they're sitting in your ears.

Apple will ship a pair of Lightning-enabled AirPods and a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adaptor in the box.

Elsewhere, the iPhone 7 has two times louder audio than the iPhone 6S thanks to front-facing dual speakers.

The camera tech has received a welcome boost. The iPhone 7 uses a 12MP sensor, while the iPhone 7 Plus has been updated to a dual-lens setup similar to the Huawei P9.

The dual-camera set-up incorporates two 12MP sensors: a wide-angle lens, and a traditional telephoto lens. When used in tandem the two lenses provide a powerful digital zoom up to 10x magnification. A later software update will introduce depth of field effects.

Shaky-handed photographers will welcome the addition of OIS, a feature available previously only on the iPhone 6S Plus. Those who like to take photos in low light will appreciate the Quad-LED True Tone flash.

Both handsets feature a newly designed home button that replaces the traditional 'click' with a vibrating sensation that responds to pressure.

IP67 certification makes the iPhone 7 safe from rain, water and dust.

The iPhone 7 uses the new Apple A10 Fusion processor. This comprises two "high performance" cores that offer a 40 per cent performance increase over the previous A9 chip. A new GPU boosts graphics performance by up to 50 per cent.

Apple has dropped the 16GB storage option for the iPhone 7, and instead offers a larger 32GB by default. The base 16GB has endured since the iPhone's inception in 2008. Other capacities are 128GB and 256GB.

The iPhone 7 does away with an old favourite (Space Grey) but introduces Black and Jet Black. These sit alongside the Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold offered with the iPhone 6S.

Apple has dubbed iOS 10 as its "biggest software launch ever", and as expected it will arrive on iPhone 7 devices from release.